I need to draw quite a bit of new comb (medium honey supers) this year. I am using ritecell foundation from Mann Lake w/wood frames. I run 9 frames in a 10 frame box once drawn. My question is....do I need to use 10 frames until its drawn? Is it possible to get good comb drawn by using 9 frames and just put frames of foundation between frames w/drawn comb? I dont really want to chance it unless some of you experienced beeks say it will work!

Hartz

01-29-2013, 08:52 PM

The Honey Householder

Re: Drawing new comb in honey supers

I run 8 frames in ten frame boxes for honey production. This year I have 3000-4000 new frames that I have to get drawn. I just add a new one in each box of my drawn frames and they do just fine. Really if there is a good honey flow they don't care if it is a new frame or a drawn frame.

01-29-2013, 09:06 PM

jim lyon

Re: Drawing new comb in honey supers

9 frames will work just fine if you want to stretch your your comb. We typically mix them in with drawn comb either in slots 2 4 6 8 or else in 3 5 and 7 I just wouldn't recommend foundation on the outside frames. If there is a heavy flow you can get by with pretty much anything.

01-29-2013, 09:40 PM

Roland

Re: Drawing new comb in honey supers

Ron used the wrong syntax .....

if there is a good honey flow they don't care if it is a new frame or a drawn frame.

That is a BIG "IF".

Everything works when there is a flow on. If not, all bets are off.

Crazy Roland

01-29-2013, 11:44 PM

Ian

Re: Drawing new comb in honey supers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hartz

.do I need to use 10 frames until its drawn? Is it possible to get good comb drawn by using 9 frames and just put frames of foundation between frames w/drawn comb?

Thats what I do, I will take two drawn frames out of a 9 frame box, near the middle, and replace them with two foundation. Snug the frame besides the foundation tight and space the rest accordingly
you will get nice drawn foundation and your comb will be filled out fat. Otherwise if you squeeze 10 frames into that box, your going to be scraping all those after they miss the uncapper knife

01-30-2013, 07:08 AM

squarepeg

Re: Drawing new comb in honey supers

if i have a whole super of foundation, i'll start with ten until they start drawing them and then remove one to leave nine. as ian said, the uncapping is much easier if they are drawn out fatter.